Terminal forming and attaching apparatus



P 1941- F. MARTINDELL 2,255,510

TERMINAL FORMING AND ATTACHING AiPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 16, 1958 FIG. /3 /65, /e3

ATTOR/VB F. MARTINDELL TERMINAL FORMING AND ATTACHING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 16, 193 4 Sheets-Sheet s g; Q M/VEWI'OI? E MART/Amid Sept. 9, 1941.

Sept. 9, 1941. F. MARTlND ELL 2,255,510

TERMINAL FORMING AND ATTACHING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 v Fiied Nov. 16, 1938 Patented Sept. 9, 1941 TERMINAL FORMING AND ATTACHING APPARATUS Frank Martindell, Western Springs, Ill., asslgnor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 16, 1938, Serial No. 240,724

4 Claims.

This invention relates to terminal forming and attaching apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for forming terminals from strip material and attaching them to spool heads. which are later assembled on coils.

It is an object of the present invention to provide mechanism for expeditiously forming electric terminals and attaching them to their supports.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, relatively light metallic bands are fed from supply spools to a reciprocatory forming die which partially forms a terminal and advances it into association with a terminal support to which the terminal is to be fixed. Operating in timed relation to the feeding and partial forming mechanism are a set of staking and cutoff tools which stake the partially formed terminal on its support and hold it in that position during thepartial forming of a new section of the strip, and thereafter complete the forming of the terminal and shear it from the strip.

A better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the detailed description of the apparatus when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, looking at the right side of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3-is a plan view, on an enlarged scale,

of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, some of the parts being broken away to conserve space;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial plan view of the reciprocatory feeding and forming mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4 in the direction of the arrows;

Figs. 6 and '7 are fragmentary sectional views, taken on the lines 6-6 and 1-1, respectively, of Fig. 5 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2, showing the details of construction of the final forming dies;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 99 of Fig. 8 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the line III-III of Fig. 8 in the direction of the arrows;

- shown in the other views.

on the line III I of Fig. 10 in the direction of the arrows; and

Figs. 12 and 13 are plan and side elevational views, respectively, of a support in the form of a spool head for an induction coil with terminals fixed thereto by the operation of the apparatus Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate the same parts throughout .the several views, the numeral II designates a base upon which the various parts of the mechanism are mounted. The base II supports a motor I2 and a single revolution clutch I3, which may be of any suitable type, since the details thereof do not concern the present invention. The single revolution clutch is operated under control of a link and lever mechanism, designated generally by the numeral I4, connected to a suitable treadle, not shown, positioned beneath the base II. Each time the clutch I3 is operated, it will drive a shaft I1 through one revolution and then automatically disengage.

The shaft l1 has a brake mechanism, designated generally by the numeral I15, associated therewith and comprising a pair of brake shoes I16 and I11 mounted .upon an upright member I18 fixed to the base II. The brake shoes I16 and I11 are urged into engagement with a brake drum I86, fixed to the shaft I1, by a pair of compression springs I19 and I80. The compression spring I19 surrounds the upright member I18 and is held in place thereon by a wing nut I 8I threaded on the upper end of the member I18 and between which and the brake shoe I11 the spring is interposed. The left end of the brake shoe I16 has a threaded rod I82 fixed therein which extends through an aperture I83 in the brake shoe I11 and has a compression spring I8I] surrounding it and interposed between the upper surface of the brake shoe I11 and a wing nut I85 threaded on the rod I82. By means of this mechanism, the brake shoes I16 and I11 are always exerting a braking action on the shaft I1, whereby the shaft will not overrun when the single revolution clutch is disengaged and the shaft I1 will therefore always stop in the same position.

Extending upwardly from the base II are a pair of bearing members I5 and I6, which rotatably support the drive shaft I1, which in turn carries a plurality of cams I8, I9, 28 and 2|. Associated with the cam I8 is a cam roller 22 Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken (Figs. 1 and 3) mounted intermediate the ends of a cam lever 23, which is pivoted on the base II at 24. The cam lever 23 controls the operation of the feeding and partial forming apparatus, an arm fixed to the lever 23 and having pivoted on its free end a pair of links 26 and 21 (Fig. 3) transmitting the motion from the cam I8 and lever 23 to the feeding and partial forming mechanism. Pivotally connected to the ends of the links 26 and 21 are a pair of slidable blocks 28 and 29, respectively, which are slidable on adjustable guide plates and 3|, respectively. The slidable blocks 28 and 29 and the guide plates 30 and 3| are of exactly the same construction and only one guide plate and slidable block will be described in detail, that is, the guide plate 3| and the'slidable block 29, which are shown in detail in Figs. 4 and Extending upwardly from the base II are two projections 40 and 4|, which support the guide plate 3|. The projection 48 has a pair of mounting lugs 42 and 43 extending upwardly from it and the projection 4| has two lugs 44 and 45 extending upwardly from it. The lugs 42, 43 and 44 have threaded apertures 45, 41 and 48 for receiving set screws 49, 50 and 5|, respectively, and the lug 45 receives the butt end of a headed screw 52. The headed screw 52 is threaded into a plate member 53, which, with a cooperating plate member 54, comprises the guide plate 3|. The members 53 and 54 are accurately positioned with respect to one another by keys 55 and 55 set into the abutting portions of the members and are held in parallel relation by a pair of keys 51 and 58. The set screws 49, 59 and 5| and the headed screw 52 may be adjusted to accurately position the guide plate 3| with respect to the final forming mechanism.

The slidable block 29 is normally drawn to the right (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) by a spring 60 fixed to the projection 4| and connected to a pin 6| 'mounted in the slidable block 29. The lever 21 is pivotally connected to the slidable block 29 by means of a screw 62 threaded into the slidable block 29, a washer 63 being provided for spacing the lever 21 slightly away from the guide block.

Mounted upon the slidable block 29 are a tape gripping device and a tape forming device, designated generally by the numerals 94 and 65, respectively. The tape gripping device 84 comprises a pair of blocks 66 and 61 keyed together, as shown at 68, and bolted to the slidable block 29 by machine screws 69. The blocks and 91 are cut away, as shown in Fig. 7, to provide a passageway 10 for the passage of the partially formed tape, designated 1|, and to receive a gripping member 12, which has an enlarged portion 13 abutting a plate 14 fixed to the blocks 59 and 61. As will be noted in Fig. 4, the blocks 55 and 61 are not exactly rectangular in shape and the gripping member 12, which is slidable between the plates, is tapered so that when the slidable block 29 moves to the left (Figs. 4 and 5), the partially formed tape 1| will tend to hold the gripping member 12 and the block 29 may thus be freely moved to the left without moving the partially formed tape 1|. However, when the block 29 is moved to the right, (Figs. 4 and 5) a spring 15, which normally urges the gripping member 12 to the left with respect to the block 29, will force the gripping member 12 into engagement with the tape and the shape of the tape and its retaining plate 14 will cause the gripping member 12 to grip the tape tightly and move it to the right (Figs. 4 and 5). The tapes II are thus drawn from a pair of reels 18 and 11 (Figs.

1 and 3), mounted on a common hub 19, by the gripping members 12 on the slidable blocks 28 and 29 each time the blocks are moved to the right (Figs. 3, 4 and 5).

The tapes 1| are directed to the tape-forming devices 65 by a pair of guide rollers 19 and and during the movement of the slidable blocks 28 and 29 to the right (Fig. 3), the tape forming devices 65 will be inoperative. However, when the cam I9 positively cams the arm 25 to the left against the action of springs 8| and 60, the spring 8|, being fixed to the cam lever 23 and bearing IS, the tape, which will at that time have been gripped by other mechanism, to be described hereinafter in connection with the final forming of the terminals, will be held against movement to the left, and as the two slidable blocks 28 and 29 are cammed to the left, the tape forming devices 65, mounted thereon, will fold the tape into a U-shaped configuration.

The tape-forming devices 55, mounted on the slidable blocks 28 and 29, are of exactly the same construction and comprise a pair of forming blocks and 9| keyed together, as shown at 92 (Fig. 6), and have a forming member 93 positioned between spaced-apart portions thereof. The forming blocks 90 and 9| have tapered slots 94 and 95 formed therein to provide forming surfaces for folding the tape 1| over the forming member 93, which is held in place between the blocks by a retaining plate 96. The tapered slots 94 and 95 gradually merge into a straight slot, which conforms substantially to the shape of the forming member 93, but is somewhat larger, so that as the forming device 85 is driven to the left by its actuating cam I8, it will fold the tape 1| around the forming member 93.

As just described, the tape will be formed into U-shaped configuration and fed to the final forming tools, which will now be described.

Two bolsters H0 and III extending upwardly from the base II cooperate with the projection 4| to support a die block H3, in which there is slidably mounted a spool head retaining member H4. The spool head retaining member II4 has pivoted to its lower end a cam lever 5, which is pivoted on a pin IIG extending into a bracket 1 mounted on the base II (Fig. 2). The cam lever H5 is normally urged upwardly by a spring 8 fixed to the lever and to a stud 9 formed on the bolster III. A bolt I29, threaded into a portion of the bolster HI and locked in place therein by a'nut |2|, serves to restrain the lever 5 from movement beyond a predetermined point under the contractile action of the spring II8 so that the upward movement of the spool head retaining member 4 may be accurately regulated.

The cam lever I|5 carries a cam roller I22 thereon which lies in the path of movement of the cam I9 and will be actuated by the cam I9 at a predetermined time in the cycle of operation of the machine. The cam I9 is so formed that the spool head retaining member I4 will be moved downwardly after terminals have been assembled on the spool head and completely out from the tape 1|. When a completed set of terminals have been fixed to a spool head, a spring I 24, which cooperates with the spool head retaining member I I4 to clamp a spool head thereon. will become effective to eject the spool head upon the lowering of the retaining member ||4. This spring I24 is mounted in an aperture I25 in the die block 3 and will hold a spool head during the forming of the terminals and. will eject the spool head upon the retraction of the retaining member I I4.

Also pivoted on the pin H6 is a lever I connected by a link I3I to a cam lever I32 (Fig. 2). Cam lever I32 is pivoted on a stud shaft I33, mounted on the bearing member I6, and carries on it a cam roller I34 positioned between the link I3I and the stud shaft I33. The lever I30 (Figs. 8 and 9) has a pin I35 fixed in it which engages in a slot I36 formed in a staking pin actuator I31, The staking pin actuator carries a pair of staking pins I38 and I39 which are slidable in apertures I40 and MI formed in the die block H3. The left end (Fig. 2) of the cam lever I32 has pivoted thereon an adjustable push rod I42, to the lower end of which there is fixed a staking die I43 (Figs. 8 and 9) slidably positioned between a bridge I44 and a retaining plate I45. The staking 'die I43 has a pair of staking pins I46 and I41, which are in direct vertical alignment with the staking pins I38 and I39, and

which cooperate with the staking pins I38 and I39 to stake the pair of terminals onto a slotted spool head with which the terminals have been assembled.

There is also mounted upon the stud shaft I33 a cam lever I50, which carries a cam roller I.5I for cooperation with the cam 2I. Fixed to one end of the cam lever I50 is a spring I52, which has its opposite end secured to the base II at I53 (Fig. 2) for normally urging the cam roller I5I into engagement with the cam 2|. The end of the cam lever I50, away from the spring I52, has adjustably secured thereto a cutting die I55,

which, at its lower end, is provided with a pair of shearing members I56 and I51, which cooperate with a pair of die cavities I58 and I59, respectively, formed in the die block I I3 to shear the terminals from the tape 1|. The terminals, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, are sheared by the shearing members I56 and I51 along the lines I60, I6l and I62 after the terminals have been fed into slots I63 in a spool head I64 and staked thereon, as shown at I65I65, by the staking pins I38, I39, I46 and I41.

. Mounted in a central aperture in the cutting die I is a crimping die I66, which is slidable upon a threaded member I61 and is normally urged downwardly by a compression spring I68 (Figs. 8 and 9) seated in a pocket I69 formed in the cutting die I55 and resting against the upper surface of the crimping die I66. Mounted closely adjacent the cutting dies I56 and I51 are guide members I10 and HI, respectively, which are of exactly the same construction, and comprise a block I12 (Fig. 11) and a spacer plate I13. The spacer plate I13 fits in between the folds in the folded tape H and acts as a shearing surface against which the cooperating cutting member I56 or I51 may shear the formed terminal from the supply of tape.

It is believed that a better understanding of the construction of the mechanism may be had from the following brief description of the mode of operation thereof.

After the motor I2 has been started in any suitable manner, an operator may insert a spool head I64 in the machine, placing it so that its central aperture surrounds the upper portion of the retaining member II 4 and its left edge (Figs. 3 and 10) is engaging the spring I24, whereby the spool head will be retained in the apparatus with the slots I63 in the head thereof in alignment with the folded tape 1 I to be fed thereto. As soon as the spool head has been placed in this position, the treadle, not shown, may be operated to transmit motion through the link and lever mechanism I4 to the single revolution clutch I3 to set it in operation. This will cause the shaft I1 to rotate through one revolution, where it will be stopped by the brake mechanism I15. The shaft I1, in rotating through one revolution, will cause a partially formed section of tape H to be fed into the slots I63 in the spool heads I64. This is accomplished by the movement of the slidable blocks 28 and 29 to the right '(Fig. 3) due to the cam roller 22 riding down the surface of the cam I8 under the action of the springs 60 and 6|. In the drawings, particularly in Fig. 3, cam I8 has been shown in the position where the slidable blocks 20 and 29 have advanced sections of tape into the slots in the spool head and are almost back to the normal position. In the feeding of the tapes 1I into the slots in the spool head, the arm 25 and the cam lever 23 are drawn to the right by the springs 60 and BI and will move the blocks 28 and 29 to the right. Blocks 28 and 29, in moving to the right, will feed the tape 1I due to the action of the tape gripping device 64, wherein gripping member 12 will be urged into engagement with the tape 1| by the spring 15 and as its associated block 28 or 29 will start to move to the right, will be wedged into the partially formed tape and will carry the tape to the right (Figs. 3, 4 and 5). After the partially formed tapes 1I have thus been fed to the slots I63 in the spool head, the cam I8 will positively drive the cam lever 23 and arm 25 to the left, and at the time that the cam I8 is driving the slidable blocks 20 and 29 to the left, the right end of the tapes 1I will be gripped by the staking and crimping mechanism so that it will be restrained against movement and the tape forming device 65 will move with respect to the tape, thereby forming the tape into U-shaped cross-section during the movement of the tape forming device. to the left (Figs. 3, 4 and 5).

In Figs. 2 and 8 to 10, inclusive, the machine is shown in its rest position, that is, the position where no spool head has been placed on the retaining member H4, and all of the dies are in their inactive position. It will be understood, however, that while the slidable blocks 28 and 29 are in their extreme right-hand position, where the partially formed tapes are inserted in the slot I63 in the spool head, the earns 20 and 2I will become effective to simultaneously move their associated staking pins, crimping dies and shearing dies to a position to fix the partially formed tapes on the spoolhead and partially shear the terminals from the supply of tape.

The cams 20 and 2I simultaneously move their associated parts to cause the staking pins I38, I 39, I46 and I41 to stake the terminals to the spool head I64 and to cause the crimping dies I66 and the shearing members I56 and I51 to flatten the spaced-apart portions of the partially formed tape and to move them into engagement with one another. The shearing members I56 and I 51, in moving to this position, will cooperate with the guide members I10 and IN to shear the upper fold of the tape 1| and press it down against the lower fold. The cam 2I is so formed that it will move its shearing members I56 and I 51 simultaneously with the movement of the staking pins I38, I39, I46 and I41 until the shearing members have cut through the top layer of the folded tape, as hereinbefore stated, and then both the staking pin actuator I 31 and staking die 3 and the shearing members I56 and I51 will dwell in that position while the cm It drives the slidable blocks 28 and 25 (Figs. 4 and 5) to partially form a new section of the tapes II and after the new sections of tapes have thus been partially formed, the cam II will further actuate the cutting die I55 to shear through the remainder of the tape. However, the crimping die I66 will not move with the shearing die I55, but will remain stationary and the threaded member I61 will move downwardly compressing spring I68, and after slidable blocks 28 and 29 have been moved to their extreme left-hand position by the cam Hi, the staking die I43, staking pin actuator I31 and shearing die I55 will all be returned to their normal position, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Shortly after they have moved to their normal position, the cam I! will become effective to move the spool head retaining mem ber Ill downwardly, thereby permitting the spring I 24 to flip the spool head with the formed terminals attached thereto out of the machine and the machine will then be in condition to receive a new spool head as soon as the shaft l1 comes to rest. In this position, the spool head retaining member will be returned to the position shown in Fig. 8.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been described hereinbefore, it will be understood that many modifications may be made in the described device without departing from the invention, which is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for forming terminals and attaching them to a support, a reciprocable block, a feeding and forming mechanism mounted on said block for feeding material to be made into terminals to the support during movement thereof in one direction and for forming the material to a predetermined configuration during movement thereof in the opposite direction, and means operable in timed relation to the operation of said feeding and forming mechanism for securing the fed material to the support, said securing means also serving to hold one end of the fed materialduring movement of the block in one direction.

2. In an apparatus for forming terminals and attaching them to a support, a reciprocable block, a feeding and forming mechanism mounted on said block for feeding material to be made into terminals to the support during movement thereof in one direction and for forming the material to a predetermined configuration during movement thereof in the opposite direction, a staking member for fixing a terminal to its support. a crimping member for folding material to form the terminal, and a shearing member for cutting the terminal from a strip, said crimping member and staking member being operable to hold the strip from moving with the forming device during the forming movement of the forming device away from the crimping and staking members.

3. In an apparatus for forming terminals and attaching them to a support, a reciprocatable block, a feeding and forming mechanism mounted on said block for feeding material to be made into terminals to the support during movement thereof in one direction and for forming the material to a predetermined configuration during movement thereof in the opposite direction, means operable in timed relation to the operation of said feeding and forming mechanism for securing the fed material to the support, and means in said securing means for holding one end of the fed material during the forming of said material by the feeding and forming mechanism.

4. In an apparatus for forming terminals and attaching them to a support, a reciprocable block, a feeding and forming mechanism mounted on said block for feeding material to be made into terminals to the support during movement thereof in one direction and for forming the material the said strip and later complete the shearing of I the strip to form the terminal, said shearing means also being operable to hold the strip from moving with the forming device during forming movement of'the forming device away from the shearing means.

FRANK MAR'IINDELL. 

